Apparatus for automatic and continuous gas analysis.



No. 896,544. PATENTBD AUG. 18, 1908.

- W. S. HUBBARD APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC AND CONTINUOUS GAS ANALYSIS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2A, 1908.

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v W. S. HUBBARD. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC AND CONTINUOUS GAS ANALYSIS.

APPLICATION FILED T13R24, 190B.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M w mlm L Mf H M A Q 1. m W 1U m m Mmcssm PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908. W. S. HUBBARD. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC AND CONTINUOUS GAS ANALYSIS.

APPLTGATION FILED T133424, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wtbussss Invmtor Mronw/ No. 896544. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

} W. S. HUBBARD. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC AND CONTINUOUS GAS ANALYSIS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC AND CONTINUOUS GAS ANALYK JIS.

I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 190B.

5 SHEETSHEET 5.

w I I Littora WILLIAM sAnnoNs HUBBARD, or LEICESTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR AU IOMA'IIC AND CGNTINIJ'OIJ'S GAS ANALYSIS.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Aug. 18, 3.908.

Application filed February 24, 1908. Serial No. 417,339

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLTAM SAMMONS HUBBARD, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Kent Street Works, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented new and useful Ap aratus for Auto'- matic and ("ontinuous Ana ysis and Recording of Gases, of which the following is a specilication..,

The present hivcntion relates to an impro vcd apparatus for the automatic and con tinnous analysis of gases and the automatic and ,(OlltlllllOUS recording of the results oithe analysis upon a chart or graduated index the effective working of the boiler.

plate by the apparatus itself.

The special application of my invention which I have at present in view is to record the amountot' carbonic acid gas in the chimncy gases from a furnace such a boilerfurnace, in such a form that the record will atlordn simple and reliable indication of the ellicioncy of the firing and consequently of h I do not, however, rcstriht the application of my invention to his purpose alone it beingobvious that apparatus constructed in substantially the same manner can be utilized for recording other gases than (70 in chimneys, lines, exits or other portions of industrial plants. 1

My invention is ',more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 'i Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view illustrating for the sake of clearness of description a comtrnction of the apparatus without regard to scale or to the exact relative proportions or positions of the various portions of the apparatus. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 3 shows a plan vii-av oi Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shot a detail View of the slide valve adapted toadinit water to or let it out from the chamber inclosing the measuring vessels. Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the inclosing chamber, and Fig. 6 shows a side elevation oil ig. 5 partly in section.

Referring now to the drawings, 1, represents a water cistern, preferably provided at the top witlian inlet funnel 2, shown in Fig. l, through which a regulated flow ol wa- '.ter discharges froma rock or valve connected with a source ofsupply. The water passes down the pipe 3, the lower end of which communicatcs at right angles with a port or eavity in asliding valve 4, shownniore )articularly in Fig- '4, The said sliding Va ve 4 is liquid.

arranged according to its position either to connect the pipe 3 with the port 5 at the bot tom of the inclosing chamber 7 or to close the lower end ofsaid pipe 3. In order to hold .saidvalve against its seating I arrange, as

shown-more particularly in Fig. 4, a bell crank 44prov1ded at one end with a counter Weight 4-5 and at the other end with a roller :46 adapted to be pressed by said weight against the outer surface of said valve 4. The said valve 4 is provided with a pin 49 which limits the stroke of the valve 4 in both directions ressing against the inclined surfaces 50 m 51. The said port 5 allows a passage for the water from the pipe 3 througl 'ihe valve 4 to the chamber 7 when said valve is in its lowest position but when said valve is in its highest position it allows an outlet for the water in the chamber 7 down the pipe 6. As shown in 1 and 6 this inclos ng chamber 7 is provided with a tank or retaining chamber 8 adapted to retain a portion of the water when said chamher is emptied. The said chamber 7 is covered by a plate 9 provided with a series of apertures which will be hereinafter described. The said apertures arecovered by a sliding valve 10 provided with ports for alternately connecting the various inlets and outlets formed by the apertures and controlled in its nmvements by, the said sliding valve 4 connected thereto by means eithe rod 11, bell crank 12 and rod 13. The aperture 14 inthe said cover 9 is open to the atmosphere. The aperture 15 is open to the interior of the chamber 7; the aperture 16'is open to the interior of a measuring vessel 17 fixed within said chamber 7, shown in Fig. and in Figs. 5 and. 6. The aperture 18 is open to a tube 19 connected with the apex of the ooned interior of a bell 20 arranged in a cistern 21 filled almost to the apex of the said coned interior of the said bell 20 with an absorbent An aperture 22 is open to the interior of a second'measuring vessel 23 fixedin said chamber 7 and provided at its lower end with a pipe 24 projecting beneath the level of the water inelosed in the said tank or re taining chamber 8, as shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in 5 andli. The said measuring vessel 23 is also connected to a tank 25 by a curved tribe 26 and to the interior of. a bell 27 lloatmg'm said tank 25 by means of 30. Its other end is provided with a stylus 32, referably adapted to make a vertical stre e upon the surface of a chart 33 placed u on a revolving drum 34 which is rotated by c ock work in any convenient manner. The

said pipe 6 which is attached to and adapted form a water seal for a suction tube 42 connecting said cistern with the line or chimney from which the gas to be examined is, drawn. The said cistern 41 is connected through a pipe 43 with the upper part of the said in closing ehamber7.

The operation of the apparatus is as-l'ollows: Water is allowed to flow into the cistern 1 in a quantity proportioned to the speed at which the instrument is required to analyze the gas and record the result of the analysis. When the valve 4 is in the lowest position, as shown in the diagrammatic view Fig. 1, the water flows down' the pipe 3 through the valve and fills the inelosing chamber 7. As the level of the water rises in said inclosing chamber it flows into the measuring vessels 17 and 23 through the open tubes in which said rece tacles terminate "at their lower ends. Tie flow of water continues until itreaches the level in the chamber 7 of the overflow pipe 43 from whence the water overflows into the cistern 41 and passes away down the tube 40 into the tank 36. As the said tank 36 fills the float 37 rises therein thereby raising the valve 4 until the pi e 6 is in connection with the interior of t e chamber 7 throu 11 the ort 5 and the end of the pi e 3 is c osed t ereby shutting off the supp y of water from the water cistern 1. The contents of the inclosing chamber 7 flow out through .the port 5 down the pipe 6 into the tank 36 and are discharged from there through the siphon 39 and overflow 52 and when the chamber 7 is emptied the water will continue to be discharged from the tank 36 by the siphon 39 until the float 37 has been lowered to its initial position and the valve 4 to the position shown in the diagrammatic drawing Fig- 1 in which the end 7 of the pipe 3 is again open to the inclosing chamber 7 therebyallowing the water to again flow from the cistern 1 to said inclosing chamber.

It will be readily understood that by the arrangement above described as long as the cistern 1 contains water the water will alternately rise and tall in the inclosim chamber 7, the highest and lowest levels in sa1d sesame connection between the interior of the inclosing chamber 7 and the atmosphere through port 14 is cut oil, while a connection is made by the said valve 10 between the upper end of the measuring vessel 17 and the mte rior of the chamber 7 through the apertures 15 and 16. There is always a communication above the water level with the cistern 41 through the pipe 43, and, as the water level in the inclosing chamber 7 falls, the water passing out through the port 5 the connection of said chamber 7 with the atmosphere being shut oil by the valve 10 a partial vacuum .is created in said chamber 7 causing an inrush of gas from the flue through the pipe 42, cistern 41 and ipe 43. In this manner the inclosing ch'am er 7 is filled with a charge of gas from the flue tozbe analyzed and a nation of this gas fills the measuring vessel 15 and 16 connected by the valve 10.

The shape of the measuring vessels 17 and 23 is such that the quantity of gas they receive will be identical in subsequent operations to within a very slight variation because by terminating in narrow tubes .a

slight variation in the final level of the liquid will not appreciably affect the cubic contents of the said Vessels.

The vessel 17 is so arranged that its lower end is unsealed, when the water in the chamber 7 is at its lower level thus allowing it to be entirely emptied of liquid and filled with gas. 011 the other hand the lower end of the measuring vessel 23 is permanently sealed as it terminates in the tank or retaining chamber 8 which is never emptied of water below a certain level. When the measuring vessel 17 has been filled with gas owing to the emptying of the inclosing chamber 7 the float 37 together with the valvefl falls again to its ini tial position bringing the valve 4 to the positron shown in Fig. 1 and the valve 10 to the position 111 which a connection is agaln made between the atmosphere and the interior of the chamber 7 through the apertures 15 and 14, thus allowing the gases in said chamber 7 which have not passed'into the measuring vessel 17, to be discharged into the atmosphere when the water rises in said chamber 7 again. At the same time the u per end of the measuring vessel 17 is out of from con nection with the interior of the chamber 7 and is connected throu h the valve 10 to the pipe 19 leading to the interior of the bell 20 arranged in the tank 21. As the level of the water in the chamber 7 again rises the gaseous contents of the measuring vessel 17 are gradually forced through the pipe 19 into the underside of the bell 20 and come into intigas there is absorbed by the absorbent liquid mate contact with the absorbent liquid which may conveniently be caustic alkali. The bell 20 has a comparatively large area and the top is made as thin as possible and the level of the caustic alkali is arranged as shown so that when the gas from the measuring vessel 17 is pressed by the rising water in said vessel unt er the bell 20 it causes the alkali solution'to pass u outside the bell 20 and overflow its top. his arrangement is preferred because it only'causes relatively a slight pressure in the 'pipe 19 and vessel 17 and thus alters the water level in the line bore tube 16 as little as possible. On the next reversal of the valve 10 the unabsorbed gas from the bell 20 is drawn by the water falling in the vessel 23 through'the valve 10 and passages 22 and 18 into the second measuring vessel 23. As the vessel 23 is of slightly larger capacity than the vessel 17 it follows that even if none of the gas which passes into the bell 20 is absorbed there will be a slight vacuum in the second measuring vessel 23 when the water in the chamber 7 reaches its.

lowest .level. As the vessel 23 communicates by means of the pipe 23 with the bell'27 it follows that the slightvacuumcreated under said bell will cause this to descend.

As the normal position of the stylus or ice on the chart 33 is always above the zero line when a full charge of gas has passed from the absorbing chamber to the second measuring vessel 23 the slight vacuum caused by the difference in size between the measuring vessels only draws suIiicient air from underneath the said bell 27 to bring the pen to the zero line. When, l'lowever, a considerable portion of the is absorbed bythe alkali under the bell 20 agreater vacuum iscauSed in the measuring vessel 23 and the bell 27 thus causing the pen 332 to descend lower and register on the chart 33 the amount of gas absorbed. If desired the action of the pen can be adjusted when setting'rthe instrument by altering the position ol" the weight 30 on the balanced lever 31. When the valve 10 has been again moved to the position shown in Fig. 1 it uncovers the aperture 22 allowing the contents of the second measuring vessel 23 to be discharged to the atmosphere as the water rises again in the chamber 7 and thus allows said vessel 23 and the under surface of the bell 27 to become in equilibrium again at atmospheric pressure and the pen 'to rise to the position above zero ready for the next charge.

The movement of the pen lever is, con-- trolled by a stop 53 shown more particularly in Fig.3, adapted to always return it to the same position. The bell 27 is adjusted to only fall according to the difference between the amount of gas received by the first measuring vessel 17 and that received after absorptionin bell 20 by the vessel 23 the more mark a longer stroke on the chart.

under the bell 20 the lower the pen 32 descends on the chart.

It will be readily understood that the pipe 24 arranged at the lower end of the second measuring vessel 23 projects beneath the level of the water in the retaining chamber 8 so as to prevent the vacuum caused in the vessel 7 from acting on the bell 27 and thus impairing the accuracy of the instrument. The curved pipe 26 forms a connection between the water in the tank 25 and the top of the measuring vessel 23 by which means the water in said tank 25 is maintained at a constant level in spite of evaporation. The pipe 26 is curved downwards so as to retain a quantity of water and thus prevent the passage of air into the said measuring vessel 23.

The bell 27 is accurately counter balanced on the rod 31 by means of the counter weight 30 and at the other end of said rod is carried the pen S2'adapted to mark upon the, chart 33, which chart is gradually turned by the aid of clock work or any well known device. As above described the crztent to which the pen32 marks the chart in its descent depends upon the amount of gas absorbed in the bell 20. in the case under consideration the" namely of furnace'gases from a boiler flue the length of this mark will be in proportion to' the amount of (0. absorbed; it the furnace is working well and the exit gases contain a large proportie nflol:(O the quantity of absorbed will be relatively large and the bell 27 will conse picnlly descend hirtlicr into the tank '25 thus causing the pen 32 to ll", however, the furnace is working badly and only a small proportion of the exitgascs is (.(l then the quantity ol unabsorbed gas which passes on to the second measuring vessel 23 will be nearly as large as the amount originally received by the first measuring vessel 17 and consequently the fall of the bell 27 will be less and the movement of the pen will be proportionally shorter.

The apparatus is calculated for continuous work for prolonged periods without skilled attention and is adapted to give really reliable indications of the working of the boiler 1 5 continuously for a lengthy period. The only water seal exposed to the atmosphere is the surface of the liquid in the tank 25 which is n'iaintained at a constant-level by the normal working of the apparatus. fore, no danger of the heat of the boiler house drying up the water in the exposed water seals.

l/Vhatl claim is: 1. ln apparatus tinuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recordingof the results of the analysis upon a chart, the combination of a pair of measuring vessels, a chamber inclnsmg said measuring vesse s, means for filling 30 There is, therefor automatic and eon-' 1,.

and continuous recordin said chamber and alternately charging said measuring vessels with and emptying said chamber and measuring vessels of the gas to be analyzed, a chamber filled with absorbin liquid, means for alternately connecting said measuring vessels with said absorbent liquid chamber an d means for connecting the second measuring vessel with recording apparatus 2. In apparatus for automatic and con tinuous analysis of gases and the automatic of the results of the analysis upon a chart, t e combination of a pair of measuring vessels, a chamber inclosng said measuring vessels, an inner tank adapted to form a water seahfor the lower vend of the second. measuring vessel, means for filling said inclosing chamber and alternately charging said measuring vessels with and emptying said chamber and measuring vessels of the gas to be anal zed, a chamber filled with absorbing li uid a bell with a coned interior arrange in said chamber adapted to be filled almost to its apex by said absorbent liquid, means for alternately connecting said measuring vessels with the coned interior of said bell and means for connecting the second measuring vessel. with recording apparatus.

3; In apparatus for automatic and continuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recordin of the results of the analysis upon a chart, t e combination of a pair of measuring vessels, a chamber inclosmg said measuring. vessels, a water cistern adapted to be connected with a source of supply, an exhaust tank, a water valve adapted to be moved to either connect the said inclosing chamber with said water cis tern and fill said chamber with water or to connectsaid inclosing chamber with said exhaust tank and exhaust the water therefrom,

means for filling said chamber and alternately charging said. measuring vessels with and emptying said chamber and measuring vessels of the gas to be analyzed, a-chamber filled with absorbing li uid, means for alternately connecting sai measuring vessels with said absorbent liquid chamber and means for connecting the second measuring vessel with recordin apparatus.

4. In apparatus or automatic and continuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recording of the results of the analysis upon a chart, the combination of apair of measuring vessels, a chamber inclosmg said measuring ves'sels, a water cistern adapted to be connected with a source of supply, an exhaust tank, awater valve adapted to be moved to either connect said inclosing chamber with said water cistern and fill said chamber with Water or to connect said inclosing chamber with said exhaust tank and exhaust the water therefrom, a bell crank, a roller at one end supply,

of said bell crank adaptedte press against the outer surface of:

seasea said valve, a eounter-weight at the other end of said bell crank adapted to press said bell crank roller against the outer surface of said water valve and hold said valve against its seating, means for filling said chamber and alternately charging said measuring vessels with and emptying said chamber and measuring vessels of the gas to be analyzed, a chamber filled with absorbing liquid, means for alternately connecting said measuring vessels with said absorbent liquid chamber and means for connecting the second measuring vessel with recording apparatus.

5. In apparatus for automatic and continuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recording of the results of the analysis upon a chart, the combination of a pair of measuring vessels, achamber inclosin said measuring vessels, a passa e arranged in the lower part of said in'cfosing chamber, a water cistern'ada ted to be connected with a source of supp y,- an exhaust tank, a water valve, a pipe connected between said exhaust tank and said water valve, a float attached to said pipe connection adapted to ris. and fall in said exhaust tank according to the level of the water therein and to move said valve to either con nect the passage in the lower part of said inclosing chamber with said water cistern and fill said chamber with water or to connect said passage through said pipe connection with the exhaust tank, a siphon adapted to em ty said exhaust tank, a cistern adapted to orm awater seal for a pipe connecting said cistern with the flue or chimney from which the gas to be examined is drawn, a pipe connectmg said cistern With the exhaust tank, a pipe connecting said cistern with the upper art of said inclosing chamber, adapted to allow'thepassage of the gas to be analyzed to pass from the fine through said cistern to said inclosing chamber and the first measuring vessel as said chamber is emptied of water or to allow the water to overflow from said inclosing chamber into said cistern, means for em tying said chamber of gas, a

chamber filler with absorbent liquid, means for alternately connecting said measuring vessels with said absorbing liquid chamber and means for connecting the second measuring vessel with recording apparatus.

6. In apparatus for automatic and continuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recording of the results of the analysis upon a chart, the combination of a air of measuring vessels, a chamber inclosmg said measuring vessels, a water cistern adapted to be connected with a source of an exhaust tank, a water valve adapted to be moved to either connect the said inclosing chamber with said water cistern and fill said chamber with water or to connect said inclosing chamber with saideX- heust tank and exhaust the water thereseesaw.

from, means for filling saidchamber and alternately charging said measuring vessels with the gas to be analyzed, a chamber filled with absorbent liquid, a plate covering said inclosing chamber, a series of apertures formed in said plate, a sliding valve adapted to close or open said apertures, and to open or close said lnclosing chamber to the atmosphere and alternately connect said measuring vessels with said absorbing liquidchamber and means, for connecting the second measuring vessel with recording apparatus.

7. In apparatus for automatic and continuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recording of the results of the analysis upon a chart, the combination of a pair of measuring vessels, a chamber inclosing said measuring vessels, a water cistern adaptedto be connected with a source of supply, an exhaust tank, a water valve adapted to be moved closing chamber with said water cistern and till said chamber with water or to connect said inclosing chamber with said exhaust tank and exhaust the water therefrom, means for filling said chamber and alternately charging said measuring vessels with and emptying said chamber and measuring vessels of the gas to be analyzed, a chamber filled with absorbent liquid, a plate covering said inclosing chamber, a series of apertures formed in said plate, a sliding valve adapted 'to close or open said apertures and to open or close said inclosing chamber to the atmosto either connect the said inphere and alternately connect said measuring vessels with said absorbing liquid chamber, a bell crank and rod connections transmitting the movement of said water valve to said sliding valve and means for connecting the second measuring vessel with recording apparatus. 4

8. In apparatus for automatic and continuous analysis of gases and the automatic and continuous recording of the results of the analysis upon a chart, the combination of a pair of measuring vessels, means for alternately charging said measuring vessels with and emptying them of charges of the gas to be analyzed, a chamber filled with absorbent liquid, means measuring vessels withsaid absorbing liquid chamber, an. open tank connected with said second measuring vessel, a bell arranged in said tank, a pipe connecting the interior of said bell with the said measuring vessel, a balance lever moved by said bell, a balance weight arranged at one end of said lever, a stylus arranged at the other end of said lever, a drum adapted to be rotated by clock work and a chart mounted on said drum adapted to be -marked by said stylus.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM SAMMONS HUBBARD.

Witnesses ARTHUR J. STEPHENS, LEONARD E. HAYNES.

for alternately connecting said 

